For nearly 100 years, the building at 283 S. Seguin Ave. in New Braunfels has been a locally owned furniture store.

Johnson Furniture Co. owner Carol Johnson—said the historic business has been built on relationships, trust and an extensive selection of unique goods.

Marking a milestone: This year, Johnson Furniture Co. is celebrating its 60th anniversary. Johnson Furniture Co. opened in 1966 after Johnson’s parents, Dorothy and Wallace Johnson, took over C.J. Ludewig Furniture, which opened in 1929.

Johnson worked at the register and in sales growing up. She returned to the shop in 1989 after earning an interior design degree from Texas State University, becoming the new owner with her newfound expertise.

What they offer: Johnson Furniture Co. keeps a rolling inventory, meaning new pieces are ordered based on customer preference and industry trends, Johnson said.

“We’re able to pick and choose exactly what we bring in and not have a corporate influence tell us what we’re going to put on the floor,” she said.

A Seguin-based CBD and smoke shop has opened a location in New Braunfels.

In case you missed it: Lone Star Hempworks opened a new location in New Braunfels at 921 S. Seguin Ave. on March 5, according to a Facebook post from the business. The smoke shop's Seguin location opened in September 2025 at 633 E. Court St.

What they offer: Lone Star Hempworks sells flower, vapes, edibles, drinks and more, according to the shop's website.

• 921 S. Seguin Ave., New Braunfels

As health care costs continue rising in Texas and across the nation, state lawmakers are working to understand the factors that make health care unaffordable and what can be done to rein in prices.

The big picture: About 5.2 million Texans, or 16.7% of the state’s population, did not have health insurance in 2024, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

For years, advocates have called on Texas lawmakers to pass laws to drive down health care costs and improve access to health insurance. During a two-day hearing April 30 and May 1, a Texas House committee examined why health care costs are rising. Lawmakers will discuss potential policy solutions later this year, committee chair Rep. James Frank, R-Wichita Falls, said.

What's happening: Yale University professor Zack Cooper said that since 2000, U.S. health care spending has grown three times faster than inflation. The average health insurance premium for a family of four is $27,000 per year, he said.

“Every family is basically buying a new Toyota Corolla worth of health insurance," Cooper told lawmakers.